Word Origin & History

sleuth c.1200, "track or trail of a person," from O.N. sloð "trail," of uncertain origin. Meaning "detective" is 1872, shortening of sleuthhound "keen investigator" (1849), a figurative use of a word for a kind of bloodhound that dates back to late 14c. The verb (intrans.) meaning "to act as a detective, investigate" is recorded from 1912.

Example Sentences for sleuth

Why, returned Sleuth instantly, I just said I came round to make you a little call.

One sleuth causes an uproar making a mess of the situations he has witnessed.

Not likely, after you and your sleuth hounds had been over the ground!

I might have known you for a sleuth hound who would guard every avenue.

Bernardet bowed and his eyes shone like those of a sleuth hound on the scent of his prey.

There was something very like the 194 sleuth in its attitude.

Never was there a sleuth with his heart in his business as mine will be.

"This," says the sleuth, haulin' out of his pocket a bulgy envelope.

No one seeming to appreciate our sleuth's brilliant theory, he promptly left.

They told him he wasn't the sleuth he thought he was, so he came back.